Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Advanced Criminal Investigation (Online)

CJ 3340-30I

Course: CJ 3340-30I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 32413

Course Description

Advanced Investigations will provide students with an in depth look at the criminal investigative processes and procedures used by law enforcement in today’s environment. Topics for in-depth review include characteristics of successful investigators, different types of evidence used to support criminal investigations, how to manage human intelligence, suspect interrogations, major crime categories, search and seizure and the 4th Amendment, and dealing with investigations involving police officers. Prerequisite(s): CJ 1010 and CJ 1330 and CJ 1340 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: D- 

Required Texts


Advanced Criminal Investigation
s, by Stephen D’Arcy, Cognella Academic Publishing


ISBN - 9781516520831

Learning Outcomes


By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Understand and identify the complexities of a criminal investigation and what it takes for an individual to be a qualified and credible investigator.
  2. Identify the different tools used to gather evidence in a criminal investigation and how to gather evidence legally while using those tools. 
  3. Understand and identify the intricacies of different  major crime categories and how those crimes are investigated. 
  4. Understand and identify the legal pitfalls of the 4th Amendment and how it affects search and seizure.
  5. Understand and identify information and evidence that is used to articulate probable cause to support the creation of a search warrant.

Course Requirements

The course will be made up of Discussion Boards, Written Assignments (including 1 quiz and 1 recorded/written assignment), and a Final Project. Each written assignment will be worth 50 points and is 40% of the overall grade (9 total assignments). Discussion boards will be worth 25 points and is 30% of the grade (12 total discussion boards). The Final Project is worth 300 points and is 30% of the grade. 

Course Outline

 The course is broken down into 7 modules (7 weeks). Each Module is described below.

Module 1: The Universal Keys

Written Assignment: Universal Keys 50 pts
Discussion: Brady/Giglio 25 pts
Discussion: Reality of a Detective 25 pts

Module 2: Physical Evidence

Written Assignment: Genetic Genealogy 50 pts
Discussion: Scientific Evidence 25 pts
Chapter Review 25 pts

Module 3: Interviews, Interrogations, and Informants

Written Assignment: Interrogations 50 pts
Written/Recorded Assignment: Line-Ups 25 pts
Discussion: Human Intelligence 25 pts

Module 4: Crimes of Violence

Written Assignment: Human Trafficking 50 pts
Discussion: Trackers 25 pts
Discussion: Crime is Up To You 25 pts

Module 5: Cybercrimes, Arson and Explosives, Terrorism and Organized Crime

Written Assignment: Cyber Attacks 50 pts
Discussion: CSLR 25 pts
Discussion: Crime is Up To You (Part 2) 25 pts

Module 6: The Investigative Toolbox

Discussion: 4th Amendment 25 pts
Discussion: Preparing for Court 25 pts
Written Assignment: Sting Ops 50 pts

Module 7: Conducting Investigations of Peace Officers

Written Assignment: 2021 Legislative Session 50 pts
Discussion: Garrity 25 pts
Discussion: What Did You Learn 25 pts
Final Project 300 pts


Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Any assignment, assessment or course project submitted after the deadline is subject to a 10% per day deduction up to a maximum 20% deduction for lateness. Written assignments will be accepted at all times subject to the point penalties above.

Discussion boards and quizzes will typically be unavailable after the deadline. Making up a discussion board or quiz will be on a case by case basis for uncontrollable or unknown emergencies. You will need to get with me if you are wanting to make up a discussion board or quiz.

Attendance Policy

This is an asynchronous course, which means there is no set time for logging in and participation. Students will be expected to attend the course as much as needed to complete the assignments in each module. Modules open up only for the week of the course it represents. That means every student is expected to log in every week to complete the tasks provided. Basically, show up as needed, but show up every week. 

Course Fees

There are no known additional course fees.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.